Boot-blacking machine



Nov. 27,1923. 1,475,298

5. GUGLIELMELLO a BOOT IBLACKING MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1922 2Sheets-Sheet l 6020-0127717, G ylz z 2m 2 I). 0

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S. GUGLIELMELLO BOOT BLACKING MACHINE Nov. 27,1923. 1,475,298

Filed on. 18. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Panama Nov. 27, 1923.

' n i s mass BOOT-BLACKING MACHINE.

application 'file'd October 18, 1922. Serial No. 595,423.

several machines arranged in a row or other,-

wise.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide means whereby thebrushes for operating on the sides of the shoes will be operatedautomatically and in such a mannor as to perform the necessary operationeffioiently; to provide them with means for shining the heel as well asthe sides of a shoe, and also shape them so as to operate on the toe; toprovide a reciprocating cloth or similar polishing means for thetoe ofthe shoe within control of the operator; and to provide this mechanismin such a form that a row of such machines can beset up together to beoperated from the same source of power and controlled by the severalcustomers separately. The invention also involves improvements in thebrushes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appearhereinafter. V 7

Reference is to be had to the" accompanyingdrawings in which 2 Fig. 1 isa side elevation of mechanism illustrating a preferred embodiment ofthis invention, the casing being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line.

2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view show ing the power operating meansinplan taken on thelline ',33of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4: is a plan of the machine showing the top of the same;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the brushes shown in plan; r

Fig. 6 is a similar view on enlarged scale showing the operation;

Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the brushes, and I I i Fig. 8' is an'endview of the machine.

The invention is shown in a form in which one or more casings 10 are setup side by side each havinga seat 11 for the customer and a platform orgrating 12 on which he places his foot when desiring to have his shoe'shined. In the bottom of the casing is a' motor 13 or other source ofpower which operates the main shaft 14:. If there are several machinesthis shaft 14- runs all the way through and rotates constantly. There iwill be only one motor for a series of machines. Themain shaft isprovided "with a gear 15 loose on it, and adapted to be clutched to theshaft by a clutch'16 operated by a link 17 and lever 18 within the reachof the customer. One'set of theseclutches and levers is located on eachmachine so that each customer can operate the clutch of his machineindependently of the others. 7 Each of the gears 15 is connected with asecond shaft 18 provided with twocranks 19. Each of these cranks isconnected by alink 20 with a lever 21. These cranks are set 180 degreesapart on the shaft so that the two levers 21 oscillate alternately ontheir pivots 22 above. One swings forward when the other swingsbackward. On each of these levers 21 is located a plate 23 provided withguide studs 24 and springs 25 for holding a brush 26 yieldingly againstthe shoe. The two brushes 26 are located oppositely obviously forengaging the opposite sides of. the same shoe. Pivotally mounted bymeans of a vertical shaft 32 on each of the levers 21 is a lever 27having right angled arms 28 and 29 pro- Each of the front end 31. As thelever swings back to 7 ward the rear the arm 28 engages the pivotedbrush section 30 and swings itinwardly'to move around the heel oftheshoe on that side and as it moves forward the arm 29 engages the brushsection 31 and forces that over inwardly against'the topof the toe. Bothof these operations are shown in Fig. 5. One acts tobrush the heel andthe other the toe. They are controlled by a handle 33 on the shaft 32Within reach of the operator; A spring pin 3% holdsthe shaft in anyposition by entering a notch on the bearing of the shaft; In Figs. 6 and7 the action is shown more in detail. I

l have also providedtwo cloths '35 each connected at one end with one ofthe levers 21 and connector by a spring'36 witha stationary point on theother side for p01- ishing the heel of the shoe controlled by V tatesconstantly.

the operation of the lever 21. This cloth is provided with a string 37which the operator can manipulate to raise it and lower 1t on the shoe.Thiscan be used with the hinged brush section 80 or in place of it andis used when the shoes are located between the guides 47.

It has been stated that the shaft 14 ro- It is provided with two cams40, one at each end, and each operat ing on a roll 41 on the end of alever 42. Each of these levers is held down by a spring 43 and itisconnected with a cloth 44, the other end of the cloth being connectedby a spring 45 with the bottom of the casing. This cloth also isprovided with a string or cord 46 which the customer may manipulate toplace the cloth in proper position.

On the stand there are two guides 47 for the shoes, one at each side ofthe central part; After the'preliminary polishing operation is performedby the brushes, the customer'puts his two feet in these guides 47,manipulates the two cloths 35 and 44 by their respective strings, andthen allows the machine to continue to operate to polish the toe of eachshoe.

On the side of the machine at the right is arack 50 for holding a dauber51 and the casing is-provided with a shelf 52 for holding the box ofpolish 53.

I have also shown a lower platform 48 with a series of sponges 49 spacedfrom it for the customer to introduce the toe of his shoe into after hehas daubed the paste on .it to distribute it.

In the operation of the device the customer seats himself on the seat11, places one foot on the machine, and daubs the polish on with adauber Then if he desires, he puts the foot in on the platform 48, thenputs his foot on the rack 12 and operates-the lever 18 to start themachine. The brushes move back and fourth on the sides of the shoe andspread the polish well over it and on the toe and heel as well. Theoperation is then performed on-the other'shoe, and while that is beingdone he can place the one which has just been operated on in one of theguides 47, adjust the cloths thereon, and secure the finishing andpolishing operation." The-n the other shoe is finished of course in thesame way.

Although I haveillustrated and described only a single form of theinvention, I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made:therein by any person skilled in the art without depart-ing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of constructionherein shown and described, but what I do claim is:--

1. In a shoe polishing machine, the combination of a main shaft, meansfor con stantly operating said shaft, a polishing cloth, a substantiallyhorizontal lever to which one end of the polishing clotlr is attached, aspring for connecting the other end of the polishing cloth with astationary part of the machine, and a cam on said main shaft on whichthe lever rests for oscillating said lever to draw the cloth over a shoeplaced under it.

2. In a shoe polishing machine, the complaced under it, and a cordconnected with said cloth by which it can be manipulated by thecustomer.

In a shoe polishing machine, the combination of a platform having twopairs of guides thereon in each of which a shoe is adapted to be placed,a cloth extending over said guides, means for constantly reciprocatingsaid cloth to polish the toe of a shoe placed between the guides, asecond'cloth arranged at the back of the guides in vertical position andmovable across the heel of a shoe placed between the guides to polishthe heel, means for moving the second cloth back and forth in its path,and a string connected with each of these cloths by which they can beadjusted by the customer.

4. I n a shoe polishing machine, the combination with a seat for thecustomer and a platform, of an open grating at the center of theplatform in front of the seat for receiving one foot. of the customer,means at the sides of the grating for polishing the sides of a shoe onthe grating, a pair of guides at each side of the grating for receivingthe shoes of the customer, a cloth over each pair of guides forpolishing the toe of the shoes, and a cloth at the rear of the guidesfor polishing the heel of each shoe.

5. In a shoe polishing machine, the com bination of a main shaft. meansfor constantly operating said shaft, a second shaft, means within thecontrol of the customer for connecting the secondshaft with. the mainshaft, said second shaft being provided with a pair of oppositelyextending cranks, a pair of levers, each connected with one of saidcranks, whereby said levers will be oscillated alternately. a pair ofcloths each connected with. one of said levers and having a springconnection at the other end adapted and arranged to polish the heel ofthe shoe, and a pair of brushes mounted on said levers for initiallypolishing the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

SALVATORE GUGLIELMELLO.

